Bumble has officially ended its long-standing rule requiring women to message first, giving all users greater freedom to start conversations.
Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd, who made this statement on Tuesday, said that the new update is an evolution of the dating app’s original mission rather than a move away from it.
“While women making the first move was a radical idea, being women-first was never about prescribing just one way to connect. It was about designing an experience with women’s needs in mind to create better outcomes for everyone,” Herd said.
She added that users were now asking for greater flexibility and less pressure when using the platform.
“Today, our community is asking for more flexibility, less pressure, and more opportunities to create real, meaningful connections, and that is what this new experience provides. This evolution isn’t a departure from our founding vision, but the realization of it.”
The changes come as Bumble attempts to revive user engagement amid pressure on its business.
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According to the company’s survey data, 66% of women said that they preferred men sending the first message, as it makes the dating pool feel less stressful.
Bumble is also extending the time users have to respond to a match from 24 hours to 72 hours, aimed at giving users more time to start conversations and reducing the number of matches that expire without interaction.
These changes come as Bumble faces pressure to revive growth, as it was reported earlier this month that the company forecast third-quarter revenue below Wall Street expectations and reported a 16.4% decline in paying users.
Bumble was launched in 2014 with a model that required women to initiate conversations in heterosexual matches, a feature that helped distinguish it from other dating platforms.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
